For Immediate Release Nunes Removal a Good Start but Independent Commission Must Investigate Russian Election Interference

Statement by Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn

The House and Senate Intelligence Committees have clearly shown they are not capable of conducting nonpartisan investigations of the direct attack on our democracy by the Russian government during the 2016 presidential race. An independent commission must be called to investigate the massive effort by the Russian government to influence the outcomes of our elections. This is the only way that the American people will be able to have any confidence that they have received the full and fair investigation to which they are entitled.

Rep. Nunes should step down not just temporarily from the Russian investigation, he should step down from the committee permanently. His actions have revealed him incapable of conducting nonpartisan investigations. His actions on behalf of a White House he was charged with investigating warrant a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Ethics.

While Chairman Nunes was the most blatant in his collusion with the Trump White House, it should not be forgotten that Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), like Nunes, went to the media at the request of the White House to try to tamp down reporting on the Russian attack. Chairmen of the committees charged with investigating possible Trump campaign collusion with the Russian government should not be attempting to tamp down news coverage of the Russian attack at the behest of the White House.

Common Cause is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.